Universal-type picture frame



1950 J. w. SWENSON UNIVERSAL TYPE PICTURE FRAME Filed Feb. 1, 1946 INVENTOR. JOSEPH W SWENSDN Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL-TYPE PICTURE FRAME Joseph W. Swanson, Summit, N. J. Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,723

This invention relates to the construction of a universal type of frame suitable for mounting a picture and the like therein. The construction to be hereinafter described relates to a self-supporting picture frame that is adapted to be placed on a table or mantel shelf.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a universal-type of picture frame which can be readily adjusted or modified to suit pictures of different widths, lengths or heights.

Another object of my invention is to provide a universal-type of picture frame which can be manufactured at a reasonable cost and yet one that is ornamental in its characteristics. My improved type of frame .is illustrated in the annexed drawing wherein,

Figure 1 shows in full lines one set up of the frame, while the broken lines show another arrangement utilizing the same frame members.

Figure 2 is a view of the right hand end of Figure '1 looking down from the top with the bottom frame member withdrawn from the base support.

Figure 3 is a view of the top part of a frame showing one arrangement of the parts in full lines and an alternative arrangement of certain of the parts in broken lines.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In the drawings i and 2 are base supports which are identical in construction so that one description suffices for the two. Referring to Figure 2 the base support 2 has a vertical hole 3 therein which may pass all the way through the base. The base is also provided with a transverse hole 4 which is located through one edge of the base slightly below the top surface thereof. The holes 3 in the two bases are adapted to receive a bottom cross frame member 5 which has a groove 6 longitudinal of its length to receive the bottom of the picture and glass or the picture may be covered with a transparent sheet such as cellophane. Fitting in the vertical holes 3 are the side support members i and 8 each of which has a groove 9 the same as the bottom support member 5 and for the same purpose. As shown in Figure 1, no top cross support member is utilized but the sides support members i and 8 preferably have their top ends cut off at a slant indicated at ill or these ends may take some other ornamental shape. As illustrated by the full lines in Figure l the picture with its glass or transparent covering is shown as coming up to the top of the frame member I and 8 which is indicated by the line H, but the picture and its covering may extend upwardly beyond the ends of the support I and 8 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-155) as indicated by the broken line l2 or the picture and its covering may stop at some point as indicated by the broken line I3.

Now suppose that the picture to be'mounted in the frame parts just described is of a width indicated by the broken lines [2 or I3 then all that is necessary to accommodate the frame to this narrow type of picture is to cut off one end of the base support member 5 to the right length so that the base 2 and the side support 8 may be moved inwardly as indicated by the broken lines [4 and as previously indicated the picture may stop at the line [3 or at any extent above the ends of the side members I and 8 to the line l2. In Figure 3 I have indicated a top cross frame member which is made up of two parts l5 and [6, the part l5 being fastened at I! to the side member I and part I6 is fastened to the side support member 8 at it. The two parts 15 and 16 are held together by a close fitting sleeve I9. While the ends of the parts l5 and I6 are shown as spaced only a short distance 20 they may terminate a substantial distance apart as indicated by the broken lines 2| and 22 it being understood that the sleeve 19 is utilized to accommodate a considerable variation in the width of the picture to be mounted in the frame. To accommodate a picture of less width than one that would fit the frame shown by the full lines in Figure 3 the bottom frame member 5 is cut to the right dimension and the ends of I5 and E6 of the top portions are cut off so that the frame members 1 and 8 can be moved toward each other as indicated by the broken lines I and 8'. If desired, the bottom frame member 5 may be constructed similar to the top frame member shown in Figure 3 as it will be noted from Figure 1 that the base frame member 5 is spaced above the plane of the bottom portions of the supports l and 2 and would give space enough for a sleeve 19 above the plane of the bases l and 2. However, I prefer to have the bottom frame member 5 as one rigid piece. From the foregoing it will be seen that the merchandising store would need to carry a quantity of the base members and frame members 5, 1 and 8 in sets of different lengths sufficient to take care of most pictures which are to be mounted in such a frame as described or they may only carry two types of members corresponding to the bottom frame member 5 and the side members 1 and 8 of lengths sufficient to take care of the largest picture that may be mounted in a self-supporting frame and since these parts are made of material such as seasoned wood or plastic which may be readily cut off, a

frame can be quickly and easily assembled to suit most any condition. If desired, especially where Wood is utilized, the frame members may be fastened to the base supports by some satisfactory adhesive material such as glue but I prefer to have the parts made so that the frame member will make a tight push fit in the base supports.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A universal type of picture frame including only a pair of similar base supports of nonmetallic material, each base having a hole at right angles to the plane of the base, with a hole in one edge only of the base at right angles to the first hole and stopping at this hole and a grooved frame member of non-metallic material that can be easily and quickly cut to a desired length and positioned in the edge holes of the two bases while the first mentioned holes each has an upright grooved member positioned therein to form an open end type of frame.

2. A picture frame as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the upper ends of said upright members may be joined by a grooved cross member made up of two sections joined by a slidable slotted sleeve while the bottom frame member is readily removable from the base supports so it may be readily cut to form a frame of the desired width.

3. A universal type of picture frame including only a pair of similar base supports of nonmetallic material, each base being much thinner than its length and breadth and having a hole at right angles to the plane of the base with a hole in one edge of the base at right angle to the first hole and extending only into the first mentioned hole, said holes having longitudinally grooved frame members positioned therein, said frame members being constructed of suitable nonmetallic material such as wood or plastic so they may be easily cut off to get a frame of the desired width and height.

4. A universal type of picture frame including only a pair of similar base supports of suitable non-metallic material of substantial surface area with a pair of holes at right angles therein and grooved frame members to fit in the holes, one hole being at right angles to the base support area while the other hole is in one side of the base support and extending into the first mentioned hole, said grooved frame members being constructed of material such as wood or plastic so they may be easily out off to get a frame of the desired Width and height.

JOSEPH W. SWENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 562,108 Wilcox June 16, 1896 958,082 Bland May 17, 1910 1,155,035 Bostwick Sept. 28, 1915 1,253,847 Lynch Jan. 15, 1918 1,281,856 Shaw Oct. 15, 1918 1,426,983 Guardino Aug. 22, 1922 1,540,482 Landaal June 2, 1925 1,858,152 Hallowell May 10, 1932 1,949,180 Rettich Feb. 27, 1934 1,980,453 Tucker et a1 Nov. 13, 1934 2,126,558 Kaul Aug. 9, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,221 Great Britain May 31, 1901 2,223,308 Rouell Nov. 26, 1940 

